U.S. patent application number 14/931340 was filed with the patent office on 2016-04-28 for communication system, communication method, server equipment, and communication equipment.
The applicant listed for this patent is NEC Corporation. Invention is credited to Youichi Hidaka, Keisuke Torigoe.
Application Number | 20160119252 14/931340 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44483095 |
Filed Date | 2016-04-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160119252 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Torigoe; Keisuke ; et
al. |
April 28, 2016 |
COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, COMMUNICATION METHOD, SERVER EQUIPMENT, AND
COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT
Abstract
A server includes a plurality of network interfaces capable of
communicating between the server and a plurality of communication
apparatus which includes network ports capable of connecting a
communication cable; a first unit specifying a pair of the network
ports, which are connected via the communication cable, according
to information related to connectivity of the network ports; and a
second unit sending an instruction to the communication apparatus;
wherein the instruction is to connect a first end of the
communication cable to a first port corresponds to the specified
port, and to connect a second end of the communication cable to a
second port corresponds to the specified port.
Inventors: |
Torigoe; Keisuke; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Hidaka; Youichi; (Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NEC Corporation |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
44483095 |
Appl. No.: |
14/931340 |
Filed: |
November 3, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13580623 |
Sep 14, 2012 |
9185010 |
|
|
PCT/JP2011/053687 |
Feb 21, 2011 |
|
|
|
14931340 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
370/400 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 49/55 20130101;
H04L 49/15 20130101; H04L 41/12 20130101; H04L 43/0811 20130101;
H04L 69/40 20130101; H04L 49/3036 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04L 12/935 20060101
H04L012/935; H04L 12/933 20060101 H04L012/933 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 22, 2010 |
JP |
2010-035684 |
Claims
1. A server comprising: a plurality of network interfaces capable
of communicating between the server and a plurality of
communication apparatus which includes network ports capable of
connecting a communication cable; a first unit specifying a pair of
the network ports, which are connected via the communication cable,
according to information related to connectivity of the network
ports; and a second unit sending an instruction to the
communication apparatus; wherein the instruction is to connect a
first end of the communication cable to a first port corresponds to
the specified port, and to connect a second end of the
communication cable to a second port corresponds to the specified
port.
2. The server according to claim 1, wherein the second unit detects
the communication cable is connected to the first port and the
second port; and wherein the second unit is capable of sending an
alert to the communication apparatus, according to a network status
between the first port and the second port.
3. The server according to claim 1, wherein the second unit is
capable of changing displaying unit of the communication apparatus
by the instruction.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a Continuation application of
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/580,623, filed on Aug. 22,
2012, which is based on International Application No.
PCT/JP2011/053687 filed on Feb. 21, 2011, which is based on
Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-035684 filed on Feb. 22, 2010,
the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by
reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a communication system
provided with a plurality of communication equipments that are
configured to be mutually connectable through a communication
cable.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] There is known a communication system provided with: a
plurality of communication equipments that are configured to be
mutually connectable through a communication cable; and a server
equipment that is communicatively connected to each of the
plurality of communication equipments.
[0004] As one of this sort of communication systems, in a
communication system described in Patent literature 1, each of
communication equipments is provided with a communication port that
is detachably connected with a communication cable. Further, each
of the communication equipments is provided with a light emitting
diode that emits light when a connection (link) is established
between a communication port provided for the device of interest
and a communication port provided for another communication
equipment (i.e., when the communication cable is connected). The
light emitting diodes are arranged corresponding to the respective
communication ports (near respective communication ports).
[0005] According to this, by viewing emission states of the light
emitting diodes, a user can easily recognize whether or not each of
the communication ports is in a state of being communicable with
another communication port.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
[0006] Patent literature 1: JP2004-32308A
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0007] However, in the above-mentioned communication system, when a
user connects one end of a communication cable with a communication
port, it is relatively difficult to identify a communication port
to which the other end of the communication cable should be
connected, which is a problem.
[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide
a communication system that can solve the above-mentioned problem
that "when a user connects one end of a communication cable to a
communication port, it is hard to identify a communication port to
which the other end of the communication cable should be
connected".
[0009] In an aspect of the present invention, a communication
system has: a plurality of communication equipments; and a server
equipment communicatively connected to each of the plurality of
communication equipments. Each of the plurality of communication
equipments has: a communication port to which a communication cable
is connected in a detachable manner; a connection notification
transmitting unit; and a first notification unit. The connection
notification transmitting unit transmits, to the server equipment,
communication port identification information for identifying the
communication port to which the communication cable is connected.
The first notification unit indicates, in a viewable manner, a
communication port corresponding to a first notification
instruction received from the server equipment as a communication
port to which the communication cable is required to be connected.
The server equipment has a connection configuration information
storage unit and a first notification instruction transmitting
unit. The connection configuration information storage unit stores
connection configuration information indicating a correspondence
relationship between a pair of communication ports expected to be
connected with each other though the communication cable and a
connection status of the pair of communication ports and the
communication cable. The first notification instruction
transmitting unit refers to the connection configuration
information corresponding to the communication port identification
information received from any of the plurality of communication
equipments, and transmits, if another communication port of the
pair of communication ports other than the communication port
corresponding to the communication port identification information
is not yet connected to the communication cable, the first
notification instruction for identifying the another communication
port to a communication equipment having the another communication
port.
[0010] In another aspect of the present invention, a communication
method includes: a step of retaining, by a server equipment,
connection configuration information indicating a correspondence
relationship between a pair of communication ports expected to be
connected with each other though a communication cable and a
connection status of the pair of communication ports and the
communication cable; a step of transmitting, by a communication
equipment, communication port identification information for
identifying a communication port to which the communication cable
is connected, to the server equipment, a step of referring, by the
server equipment, to the connection configuration information
corresponding to the communication port identification information
and transmitting, if another communication port of the pair of
communication ports other than the communication port corresponding
to the communication port identification information is not yet
connected to the communication cable, a first notification
instruction for identifying the another communication port to
another communication equipment having the another communication
port; and a step of indicating in a viewable manner, by the another
communication equipment, the another communication port
corresponding to the first notification instruction as a
communication port to which the communication cable is required to
be connected.
[0011] According to the present invention thus constructed, when
one end of a communication cable is connected to a communication
port, a user can easily identify a communication port to which the
other end of the communication cable should be connected.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0012] The above-described object, effect, and features will be
more apparent from description of exemplary embodiments in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a diagram representing a schematic configuration
of a communication system according to a first exemplary embodiment
of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a block diagram representing an outline of
functions of the communication system according to the first
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates a connection configuration table stored
in any of storage devices provided for a server equipment according
to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates a communication equipment identification
table stored in any of the storage devices provided for the server
equipment according to the first exemplary embodiment of the
present invention.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating operation of the
communication system according to the first exemplary embodiment of
the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a connection detection
processing program executed by a communication equipment according
to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a notification
instruction transmission processing program executed by the server
equipment according to the first exemplary embodiment of the
present invention.
[0020] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a first notification
processing program executed by the communication equipment
according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0021] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a communication
confirmation notification processing program executed by the
communication equipment according to the first exemplary embodiment
of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a communication
confirmation reception processing program executed by the server
equipment according to the first exemplary embodiment of the
present invention.
[0023] FIG. 11 is a block diagram representing an outline of
functions of a communication system according to a second exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram illustrating operation of the
communication system according to the second exemplary embodiment
of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 13 is a block diagram representing an outline of
functions of a communication system according to a third exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram illustrating operation of a
communication system according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of
the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a connection detection
processing program executed by a communication equipment according
to the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a notification
instruction transmission processing program executed by a server
equipment according to the fourth exemplary embodiment of the
present invention.
[0029] FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a communication
confirmation reception processing program executed by the server
equipment according to the first exemplary embodiment of the
present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0030] Respective exemplary embodiments of a communication system,
a communication method, a server equipment, a program, and a
communication equipment according to the present invention will
hereinafter be described referring to FIGS. 1 to 17.
First Exemplary Embodiment
Configuration
[0031] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a communication system 1 according
to a first exemplary embodiment includes: a server equipment 10;
and a plurality of communication equipments 20a, 20b, . . . . In
the present example, each of the communication equipments 20a, 20b,
. . . is a relay device (such as a switch or a router) that relays
communication. Alternatively, each of the communication equipments
20a, 20b, . . . may be an information processor such as a personal
computer.
[0032] The server equipment 10 is an information processor. The
server equipment 10 is provided with an unillustrated central
processing unit (CPU), storage devices (a memory and a hard disk
drive (HDD)), and an output device (in the present example, a
display). The server equipment 10 is configured such that the CPU
executes a program stored in any of the storage devices to thereby
realize after-mentioned functions.
[0033] The communication equipment 20a is provided with a
management communication port 21, a plurality of communication port
units 22a, 22b, . . . , and an unillustrated CPU and a storage
device (memory).
[0034] The management communication port 21 is connected with one
end of a communication cable MCa. The other end of the
communication cable MCa is connected to the server equipment 10. On
the basis of this, the communication equipment 20a and the server
equipment 10 are communicatively connected to each other. In the
present example, the communication equipment 20a and the server
equipment 10 make communication with each other according to TCP
(Transmission Control Protocol) and SSL (Secure Socket Layer).
Alternatively, the communication equipment 20a and the server
equipment 10 may make communication with each other according to
another communication protocol.
[0035] The communication port unit 22a includes a communication
port 22a1, a connection detection unit 22a2, and a light emitting
unit 22a3. The light emitting unit 22a3 constitutes a part of first
notification means.
[0036] The communication port 22a1 is detachably connected with a
communication cable. The communication equipment 20a is configured
to be communicable with another communication equipment 20b, . . .
in such a manner that the communication port 22a1 is connected with
one end of the communication cable and the other end of the
communication cable is connected to a communication port of the
another communication equipment 20b, . . . .
[0037] The connection detection unit 22a2 detects that the
communication port 22a1 is connected with the communication cable.
In the present example, the connection detection unit 22a2 is
provided with a pressure sensor that is in abutting contact with
the communication cable in a state where the communication port
22a1 is connected (attached) with the communication cable. The
pressure sensor generates different electrical signals respectively
for a state of being in abutting contact with the communication
cable and for a state of not being in abutting contact with it. On
the basis of this, the connection detection unit 22a2 detects that
the communication port 22a1 is connected with the communication
cable.
[0038] Alternatively, the present invention may be configured to,
with use of a sensor other than the pressure sensor, detect that
the communication port 22a1 is connected with the communication
cable. For example, the present invention may be configured such
that the connection detection unit 22a2 is provided with an
infrared sensor, and with use of the infrared sensor, detects
whether or not the communication cable is present in the
communication port 22a1 to thereby detect that the communication
port 22a1 is connected with the communication cable.
[0039] Also, the connection detection unit 22a2 may be provided
with a spring that is compressed in the state where the
communication port 22a1 is connected (attached) with the
communication cable; also provided with a sensor that detects a
compression state of the spring; and thereby detect that the
communication port 22a1 is connected with the communication
cable.
[0040] Further, it is only necessary that the connection detection
unit 22a2 can detect connection of the communication cable, and
convert a result of the detection into a signal to notify a
connection notification transmitting unit 31 of the result. For
example, the connection detection unit 22a2 may use a switch
mechanism in place of the pressure sensor to detect the connection
and notify of a result of the detection.
[0041] The light emitting unit 22a3 is provided with a light
emitting diode (LED). In the present example, the light emitting
unit 22a3 is provided with an LED that emits light having a single
color (e.g., blue color). Here, preferably, a color depending on
content notified from the server equipment 10 is set. For this
purpose, if there are a plurality of content to be notified,
different color LEDs respectively depending on the pieces of
content are provided for each of the light emitting units. The
light emitting unit 22a3 is arranged near the communication port
22a1. That is, the light emitting unit 22a3 is arranged
corresponding to the communication port 22a1.
[0042] In addition, the other communication port units 22b, . . .
also have the same configuration as that of the communication port
unit 22a.
[0043] Further, the communication equipment 20a is configured to
realize after-mentioned functions in such a manner that the CPU
executes a program stored in the storage device.
[0044] Also, the other communication equipments 20b, . . . have the
same configuration as that of the communication equipment 20a as
well.
Functions
[0045] FIG. 2 is a block diagram representing functions of the
communication system 1 configured as described above. The functions
are realized in such a manner that the CPU of the server equipment
10 executes the program or the like represented by after-mentioned
flowcharts illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 10, and also the CPU of each
of the communication equipments 20a, 20b, . . . executes the
program or the like represented by after-mentioned flowcharts
illustrated in FIGS. 6, 8, and 9.
[0046] Note that the functions of the communication equipment 20a
are described here; however, the other communication equipments
20b, . . . also have the same functions as those of the
communication equipment 20a.
[0047] The functions of the communication equipment 20a include the
connection notification transmitting unit 31, a communication
confirmation information transmitting unit 32, a light emission
control unit (light emission control unit and a part of first
notification unit) 33, a communication confirmation information
receiving unit 34, and a communication confirmation notification
transmitting unit 35.
[0048] Also, the functions of the server equipment 10 include a
connection notification receiving unit 41, a connection
configuration information storage unit 42, a notification
instruction transmitting unit 43, a communication confirmation
notification receiving unit 44, a notification information output
unit 45, and a warning information output unit (first warning
information output unit and second warning information output unit)
46.
[0049] The connection notification transmitting unit 31 transmits
connection notification to the server equipment 10 if any of the
connection detection units 22a2, 22b2, . . . detects that a
communication cable is connected to a corresponding communication
port 22a1, 22b1, . . . . The connection notification represents
that the communication cable is connected to the communication port
22a1, 22b1, . . . , and includes communication port identification
information for identifying the communication port 22a1, 22b1, . .
. connected with the communication cable.
[0050] In the present example, the communication port
identification information is information representing an MAC
(Media Access Control) address that is preset for the communication
port.
[0051] If some of the connection detection units 22a2, 22b2, . . .
detect that communication cables are connected to corresponding
communication ports 22a1, 22b1, . . . , the communication
confirmation information transmitting unit 32 transmits, through
the communication ports 22a1, 22b1, . . . , pieces of communication
confirmation information to the communication cables respectively
connected to the communication ports 22a1, 22b1, . . . . If the
other ends of the communication cables are connected to other
communication equipments, the pieces of communication confirmation
information are respectively received by the other communication
equipments. The pieces of communication confirmation information
include pieces of communication port identification information for
identifying the communication ports 22a1, 22b, . . . connected with
the communication cables, respectively.
[0052] The light emission control unit 33 receives a first
notification instruction from the server equipment 10. The first
notification instruction includes communication port identification
information for identifying a port that is not connected to a
communication cable (hereinafter referred to as unconnected
communication port identification information). If receiving the
first notification instruction, the light emission control unit 33
makes a light emitting unit (e.g., light emitting unit 22a3), which
is arranged corresponding to the communication port (e.g.,
communication port 22a1) indicated by the unconnected communication
port identification information included in the first notification
instruction, emit blue light.
[0053] If light emission control unit 33 receives the first
notification instruction in this manner, the light emitting unit
22a3, 22b3, . . . , and the light emission control unit 33 notify a
user of request to connect a communication cable to the
communication port 22a1, 22b1, . . . indicated by the unconnected
communication port identification information included in the first
notification instruction.
[0054] The communication confirmation information receiving unit 34
receives communication confirmation information from another
communication equipment 20b, . . . connected through a
communication cable.
[0055] If the communication confirmation information receiving unit
34 receives the communication confirmation information, the
communication confirmation notification transmitting unit 35
transmits communication confirmation notification to the server
equipment 10. The communication confirmation notification includes:
communication port identification information included in the
received communication confirmation information; and communication
port identification information for identifying a communication
port that the communication equipment 20a (device of interest) uses
at the time of receiving the communication confirmation
information. That is, the communication confirming notification
transmitting unit 35 transmits the communication confirming
notification to the server equipment 10 with including, in the
communication confirming notification, the two pieces of
communication port identification information that specify the
communication port pair between which communication connection is
confirmed and the communication cable is connected.
[0056] The connection configuration information storage unit 42
stores a connection configuration table and a communication
equipment identification table. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an
example of the connection configuration table according to the
present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the connection
configuration table includes at least one piece of connection
configuration information. The connection configuration information
includes: communication port identification information for
identifying each of one set of communication ports (communication
port pair) expected to be connected through a communication cable;
connection status information that represents whether or not each
of the one set of communication ports is connected with the
communication cable; and communication confirmation status
information that represents whether or not it is confirmed that
communication is available between the one set of communication
ports.
[0057] In the connection configuration information, two pieces of
connection status information respectively corresponding to two
pieces of communication port identification information are set. On
the basis of a value of connection status information, it can be
confirmed whether or not a communication port corresponding to the
connection status information and a communication cable are
connected to each other. For example, the case where "0" is set in
connection status information represents that a corresponding
communication port and a communication cable are not connected to
each other. On the other hand, the case where "1" is set in the
connection status information represents that the corresponding
communication port and the communication cable are connected to
each other. Also, for one set of (two pieces of) communication port
identification information, common communication confirmation
status information is set. On the basis of a value of the
communication confirmation status information, confirmation status
whether or not communication is available between a communication
port pair indicated by the one set of communication port
identification information can be known. For example, the case
where "0" is set in the communication confirmation status
information represents that communication is not confirmed between
a corresponding communication port pair. On the other hand, the
case where "1" is set in the communication confirmation status
information represents that communication is confirmed between the
corresponding communication pair.
[0058] FIG. 4 is an example of the communication equipment
identification table according to the present invention. Referring
to FIG. 4, the communication equipment identification table
includes at least one piece of device port correspondence
information. The device port correspondence information includes:
communication port identification information; and communication
equipment identification information for identifying any of the
communication equipments 20a, 20b, . . . , which is provided with a
communication port indicated by the communication port
identification information. In the present example, the
communication equipment identification information is information
representing an MAC address that is preset for the communication
equipment 20a, 20b, . . . . Alternatively, the communication
equipment identification information may be information
representing an IP (Internet Protocol) address.
[0059] The connection notification receiving unit 41 receives
connection notification from any of the communication equipments
20a, 20b, . . . . The connection notification receiving unit 41
uses, as a search key, communication port identification
information included in the received connection notification to
search the connection configuration information storage unit 42
(connection configuration table), and updates connection status
information corresponding to the communication port identification
information to "connected" (e.g., sets the connection status
information to "1"). Also, the connection notification receiving
unit 41 outputs the received connection notification to the
notification instruction transmitting unit 43, the notification
information output unit 45, and the warning information output unit
46.
[0060] The communication confirmation notification receiving unit
44 receives communication confirmation notification that is
transmitted from any of the communication equipments 20a, 20b, . .
. . The communication confirmation notification receiving unit 44
uses one set of (two pieces of) communication port identification
information included in the received communication confirmation
notification as a search key to search the connection configuration
information storage unit 42 (connection configuration table), and
updates communication confirmation status information corresponding
to the one set of communication port identification information to
"communication confirmed" (e.g., sets the communication
confirmation status information to "1").
[0061] The notification instruction transmitting unit 43 uses, as a
search key, communication port identification information included
in connection notification received in the connection notification
receiving unit 41 to search the connection configuration
information storage unit 42 (connection configuration table), and
specifies connection configuration information including the
communication port identification information.
[0062] Referring to connection status information included in
connection configuration information that is specified on the basis
of connection notification, the notification instruction
transmitting unit 43 checks connection status between a
communication port pair indicated by the connection configuration
information and a communication cable. If there is a communication
port that is not connected to the communication cable, the
notification instruction transmitting unit 43 uses communication
port identification information on the communication port as a
search key to search the connection configuration information
storage unit 42 (communication equipment identification table), and
obtains communication equipment identification information
corresponding to the communication port identification information.
Then, the notification instruction transmitting unit 43 transmits a
first notification instruction including the communication port
identification information on the communication port, which is
confirmed not to be connected to the communication cable, to a
communication equipment indicated by the obtained communication
equipment identification information.
[0063] That is, the notification instruction transmitting unit 43
checks, in the connection configuration table, the connection
status of the communication port serving as the other side of the
communication port connected to the communication cable. At this
time, the notification instruction transmitting unit 43 that
detects the disconnection notifies the communication equipment
having the unconnected communication port of the communication port
identification information for identifying the unconnected
communication port.
[0064] The notification information output unit 45 uses, as a
search key, communication port identification information included
in connection notification received in the connection notification
receiving unit 41 to search the connection configuration
information storage unit 42 (connection configuration table), and
specifies connection configuration information including the
communication port identification information.
[0065] Referring to connection status information included in the
connection configuration information that is specified on the basis
of the connection notification, the notification information output
unit 45 checks connection status between a communication port pair
indicated by the connection configuration information and a
communication cable. Also, referring to communication confirmation
status information included in the connection configuration
information that is specified on the basis of the connection
notification, the notification information output unit 45 checks
confirmation status on communication connection between the
communication port pair indicated by the connection configuration
information. If both of the two communication ports included in the
connection configuration information are connected to the
communication cable, and the communication connection has been
confirmed, the notification information output unit 45 outputs in a
viewable manner, from the unillustrated output device, notification
information indicating that the preset communication pair is
communicable through the expected communication cable.
[0066] That is, the notification information output unit 45 checks
in the connection configuration table according to the connection
notification whether or not the communication port pair preset in
the server equipment 10 is communicable. At this time, if between
the communication port pair, the communication connection is
confirmed, the notification information output unit 45 outputs, in
a viewable manner, the notification information indicating the
communication port pair between which the communication cable is
correctly connected as expected to complete the communication
connection.
[0067] In other words, if connection notification including each of
one set of communication port identification information included
in connection configuration information stored in the connection
configuration information storage unit 42 is received, and
communication confirmation notification including the one set of
communication port identification information included in the
connection configuration information is received, the notification
information output unit 34 outputs notification information.
[0068] The warning information output unit 46 uses, as a search
key, communication port identification information included in
connection notification received in the connection notification
receiving unit 41 to search the connection configuration
information storage unit 42 (connection configuration table), and
specifies connection configuration information including the
communication port identification information. If communication
port identification information that is coincident with the
received communication port identification information is not set
in the connection configuration information storage unit 42
(connection configuration table), the warning information output
unit 46 outputs in a viewable manner, from the unillustrated output
device to the server equipment 10, first warning information
indicating that the unset communication port identification
information is received. That is, if the connection configuration
information including the connection port identification
information included in the connection notification is not present
in pieces of connection configuration information stored in the
connection configuration information storage unit 42, the warning
information output unit 46 outputs the first warning information.
In addition, the first warning information is information
representing that a communication cable is erroneously connected to
any of the communication equipments 20a, 20b, . . . .
[0069] Further, the warning information output unit 46 uses, as a
search key, the communication port identification information
included in the connection notification received in the connection
notification receiving unit 41 to search the connection
configuration information storage unit 42 (communication equipment
identification table), and obtains communication equipment
identification information corresponding to the communication port
identification information.
[0070] Referring to pieces of connection status information
included in the connection configuration information that is
specified on the basis of the connection notification, the warning
information output unit 46 checks connection status between a
communication port pair indicated by the connection configuration
information and a communication cable. Also, referring to
communication confirmation status information included in the
connection configuration information that is specified on the basis
of the connection notification, the warning information output unit
46 checks confirmation status on communication connection between
the communication port pair indicated by the connection
configuration information. If both of the two communication ports
included in the connection configuration information are connected
to the communication cable, but the communication connection has
not been confirmed, the warning information output unit 46 outputs,
in a viewable manner, second warning information indicating such a
state from the unillustrated output device. That is, if in the
specified connection configuration information, both of the pieces
of connection status information respectively corresponding to the
one set of communication port identification information represent
that the communication cable is connected, and the communication
confirmation status information represents that communication is
not confirmed, the warning information output unit 46 outputs, in a
viewable manner, the second warning information. The second warning
information is information representing that a communication cable
is erroneously connected to any of the communication equipments
20a, 20b, . . . .
[0071] In other words, if connection notification including each of
one set of communication port identification information included
in connection configuration information stored in the connection
configuration information storage unit 42 is received, but
communication confirmation notification including the one set of
communication port identification information included in the
connection configuration information is not received, the warning
information output unit 46 outputs the second warning information
in a viewable manner.
[0072] The above-described connection notification receiving unit
41 outputs the received connection notification to the notification
instruction transmitting unit 43, the notification information
output unit 45, and the warning information output unit 46, and in
each of the functional blocks, the connection configuration
information and device identification information according to the
connection notification are specified; however, the present
invention is not limited to this. Each of these functional blocks
may confirm connection status between communication ports or
whether or not communication between the communication ports is
available, with use of connection configuration information that is
specified when connection status information is updated by the
connection notification receiving unit 41.
Operation
[0073] Next, an operation of the above-described communication
system 1 is described referring to FIGS. 5 to 10. FIG. 5 is a
sequence diagram representing the operation of the communication
system 1.
[0074] Here, the description is continued on the assumption of the
case where the connection configuration information storage unit 42
stores connection configuration information that, as one set of
communication port identification information, includes
communication port identification information "PID1" for
identifying the communication port 22a1 of the communication
equipment 20a and communication port identification information
"PID2" for identifying the communication port 22a1 of the
communication equipment 20b.
[0075] Referring to FIG. 5, described is operation up to request to
connect the communication cable to the communication equipment 20b
that is not connected, in response to connecting a communication
cable to the communication port 22a1 of the communication equipment
20a.
[0076] During activation of the communication equipment 20a, the
CPU of the communication equipment 20a executes a connection
detection processing program illustrated by a flowchart of FIG. 6.
To describe specifically, when starting to process the connection
detection processing program, the communication equipment 20a waits
in Step S201 until it detects the connection of the communication
cable.
[0077] The communication equipment 20a having detected the
connection of the communication cable determines a result in Step
S201 as "Yes", and proceeds to Step S202 to transmit communication
confirmation information (Step S201: Yes, S202). For example, the
communication equipment 20a transmits the communication
confirmation information including the communication port
identification information "PID1" for identifying the communication
port 22a1 to the other communication equipment 20b, . . . through
the communication port 22a1.
[0078] Then, the communication equipment 20a transmits connection
notification to the server equipment 10 (Step S203). Specifically,
the communication equipment 20a transmits, to the server equipment
10, the connection notification including the communication port
identification information "PID1" on the communication port 20a1
connected with the communication cable. Subsequently, the
communication equipment 20a returns to Step S201 to wait until the
communication cable is connected to the other communication port,
and when detecting the connection, performs the processing steps in
Steps S202 and S203.
[0079] Referring to FIG. 5, when a user (e.g. an administrator of
the communication system 1) connects one end of the communication
cable to the communication port 22a1 of the communication equipment
20a, the connection detection unit 22a2 of the communication
equipment 20a detects that the communication cable is connected to
the communication port 22a1 (Step S101). On the basis of this, the
communication equipment 20a transmits the communication
confirmation information including the communication port
identification information "PID1" to the communication cable
through the communication port 22a1 (not illustrated). In the
present example, the other end of the communication cable connected
to the communication port 22a1 is not connected to any of the
communication equipments 20b, . . . . Accordingly, the
communication equipment 20a fails to transmit the communication
confirmation information (cannot transmit the communication
confirmation information). Then, the communication equipment 20a
transmits, to the server equipment 10, the connection notification
including the communication port identification information "PID1"
on the communication port 20a1 connected with the communication
cable (Step S102).
[0080] When the connection notification is transmitted from the
communication equipment 20a, the server equipment 10 checks
connection status or the like on a communication port serving as a
connection target of the communication port that is specified on
the basis of the connection notification, and performs a process
depending on the connection status (Steps S102 and S103). In the
example illustrated in FIG. 5, the server equipment 10 determines
that the communication port (communication equipment 20b) serving
as the connection target is not connected with the communication
cable, and transmits a first notification instruction to the
communication equipment 20b (Step S103).
[0081] Referring to FIG. 7, details of a processing step in Step
S103 are described. During activation of the server equipment 10,
the CPU of the server equipment 10 executes a notification
instruction transmission processing program illustrated by a
flowchart of FIG. 7. To describe specifically, when starting to
process the notification instruction transmission processing
program, the server equipment 10 waits in Step S301 until it
receives the connection notification.
[0082] When receiving the connection notification including the
communication port identification information "PID1" from the
communication equipment 20a, the server equipment 10 determines a
result in Step S301 as "Yes", and proceeds to Step S302.
[0083] In Step S302, the server equipment 10 determines whether or
not connection configuration information including the
communication port identification information "PID1" included in
the received connection notification is stored (i.e., corresponding
connection configuration information is present) in the connection
configuration information storage unit 42.
[0084] According to the above assumption, the connection
configuration information including the communication port
identification information "PID1" is stored in the connection
configuration information storage unit 42. Accordingly, the server
equipment 10 determines a result in Step S302 as "Yes", and
proceeds to Step S303 to update the connection configuration table.
Specifically, the server equipment 10 sets connection status
information related to the communication port identification
information "PID1" to "1" in the connection configuration
information including the communication port identification
information "PID1".
[0085] Subsequently, the server equipment 10 proceeds to Step S304
to determine whether or not the communication cable is also
connected to the communication port of the other end. Specifically,
in the connection configuration information including the
communication port identification information "PID1", the server
equipment 10 determined whether or not connection status
information related to communication port identification
information (i.e., "PID2") other than the communication port
identification information "PID1" represents that the communication
cable is connected (i.e., the connection status information is set
to "1").
[0086] At this point, the connection status information related to
the communication port identification information "PID2" is set to
"0". Accordingly, the server equipment 10 determines a result in
Step S304 as "No", and proceeds to Step S305.
[0087] Then, the server equipment 10 obtains communication
equipment identification information (in this case, "DID2")
included in device port correspondence information including the
communication port identification information "PID2" from among
pieces of device port correspondence information stored in the
connection configuration information storage unit 42. Subsequently,
the server equipment 10 transmits the first notification
instruction including the communication port identification
information "PID2" to the communication equipment 20b that is
indicated by the obtained communication equipment identification
information "DID2" (Step S103 in FIG. 5).
[0088] After that, the server equipment 10 returns to Step S301 to
wait until it receives connection notification, and when receiving
the connection notification, performs processing steps in Steps
S302 to S309. In addition, details of processing steps in Steps
S306 to S309 will be described later.
[0089] On the other hand, the CPU of the communication equipment
20b executes a first notification processing program illustrated by
a flowchart of FIG. 8. To describe specifically, when starting to
process the first notification processing program, the
communication equipment 20b waits in Step S401 until it receives
the first notification instruction.
[0090] In the present example, the communication equipment 20b
receives the first notification instruction including the
communication port identification information "PID2" from the
server equipment 10. On the basis of this, the communication
equipment 20b determines a result in Step S401 as "Yes", and
proceeds to Step S402.
[0091] Subsequently, the communication equipment 20b makes the
light emitting unit 22a3, which is arranged corresponding to the
communication port 22a1 indicated by the communication port
identification information "PID2" included in the first
notification instruction, emit blue light (S402).
[0092] After that, the communication equipment 20b returns to Step
S401 to wait until it receives a first notification instruction,
and when receiving the first notification instruction, performs
Step S402.
[0093] In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, in the communication
equipment 20b having received the first notification instruction
from the server equipment 10, the light emitting unit 22a3 for the
communication port 22a1 corresponding to the first notification
instruction emits light. On the basis of this, the user recognizes
that the user should connect the other end of the communication
cable connected to the communication port 22a1 of the communication
equipment 20a to the communication port 22a1 of the communication
equipment 20b. Then, the user connects the other end of the
communication cable to the communication port 22a1 of the
communication equipment 20b.
[0094] Meanwhile, as with the communication equipment 20a, the
communication equipment 20b executes the connection detection
processing program illustrated in FIG. 6. Accordingly, the
communication equipment 20b transmits communication confirmation
information including the communication port identification
information "PID2" for identifying the communication port 22a1 to
the communication cable (in this case, the other communication
equipment 20a) through the communication port 22a1 (Step S202 in
FIG. 6, and Step S106 in FIG. 5). On the basis of this, the
communication equipment 20a receives the communication confirmation
information including the communication port identification
information "PID2" from the communication equipment 20b.
[0095] On the other hand, during the activation of the
communication equipment 20a, the CPU of the communication equipment
20a executes a communication confirmation notification processing
program illustrated by a flowchart of FIG. 9. To describe
specifically, when starting to process the communication
confirmation notification processing program, the communication
equipment 20a waits in Step S501 until it receives the
communication confirmation information. Then, when receiving the
communication confirmation information, the communication equipment
20a transmits, to the server equipment 10, communication
confirmation notification including the communication port
identification information included in the communication
confirmation information and the communication port identification
information on the reception port receiving the communication
confirmation information (Step S502). Subsequently, the
communication equipment 20a returns to Step S501 to wait until it
receives communication confirmation information, and when receiving
the communication confirmation information, performs the processing
step in Step S502.
[0096] In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the communication
equipment 20a receives the communication confirmation information
including the communication port identification information "PID2"
from the communication equipment 20b. Accordingly, the
communication equipment 20a transmits, to the server equipment 10,
the communication confirmation notification including the
communication port identification information "PID2" and the
communication port identification information "PID1" on the
reception port (S107).
[0097] Note that the communication confirmation notification
includes: the communication port identification information "PID2"
included in the received communication confirmation information;
and the communication port identification information "PID1" for
identifying the communication port that the communication equipment
20a (device of interest) uses at the time of receiving the
communication confirmation information. Alternatively, the
communication confirmation notification may be performed by
notification of a first packet (PacketIN) according to an OpenFlow
protocol. For example, the communication confirmation information
transmitted from the communication equipment 20b does not match a
flow entry set for the communication equipment 20a, and therefore
the server equipment 10 (in this case, an open flow controller) is
notified of the communication confirmation information as the first
packet. By notifying the server equipment 10 of the communication
port identification information on the communication port used by
the device of interest together with the first packet, the server
10 can confirm the communication port pair between which
communication becomes available.
[0098] On the other hand, during the activation of the server
equipment 10, the CPU of the server equipment 10 executes a
communication confirmation reception processing program illustrated
by a flowchart of FIG. 10. To describe specifically, when starting
to process the communication confirmation reception processing
program, the server equipment 10 waits in Step S601 until it
receives the communication confirmation notification. Then, when
receiving the communication confirmation notification, the server
equipment 10 updates communication confirmation status information
in connection configuration information indicated by the pieces of
communication port identification information included in the
communication confirmation notification to "communication
availability confirmed" (Step S602). Subsequently, the server
equipment 10 returns to Step S601 to wait until it receives
communication confirmation notification, and when receiving the
communication confirmation notification, performs the processing
step in Step S602.
[0099] In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the server equipment
10 receives the communication confirmation notification including
the communication port identification information "PID1" and the
communication port identification information "PID2" from the
communication equipment 20a. Accordingly, the server equipment 10
sets the communication confirmation status information to "1" in
the connection configuration information including the
communication port identification information "PID1" and the
communication port identification information "PID2".
[0100] Further, the communication equipment 20b transmits the
connection notification including the communication port
identification information "PID2" to the serer device 10 in
response to the connection detection in Step S105 (Step S203 in
FIG. 6 and Step S108 in FIG. 5).
[0101] On the basis of the set of connection notification received
from the communication equipments 20a and 20b, the server equipment
10 checks the connection of both of the communication port pair
expected to be connected, and outputs, in a viewable manner,
notification information indicating that the communication port
pair has been connected (Step S109).
[0102] In the following, referring to FIG. 7, details of the
processing step in Step S109 is described. The server equipment 10
receives the connection notification including the communication
port identification information "PID2" from the communication
equipment 20b. On the basis of this, the server equipment 10
determines a result in Step S301 as "Yes", and proceeds to Step
S302.
[0103] The server equipment 10 determines whether or not connection
configuration information including the communication port
identification information "PID2" included in the received
connection notification is stored in the connection configuration
information storage unit 42.
[0104] According to the above assumption, the connection
configuration information including the communication port
identification information "PID2" is stored in the connection
configuration information storage unit 42. Accordingly, the server
equipment 10 determines a result in Step S302 as "Yes", and
proceeds to Step S303 to update the connection configuration table.
Specifically, in the connection configuration information including
the communication port identification information "PID2", the
server equipment 10 sets connection status information related to
the communication port identification information "PID2" to
"1".
[0105] Then, the server equipment 10 proceeds to Step S304 to
determine whether or not the communication cable is also connected
to the communication port serving as a connection target.
Specifically, in the connection configuration information including
the communication port identification information "PID2", the
server equipment 10 determines whether or not the connection status
information related to the communication port identification
information (i.e., "PID1") other than the communication port
identification information "PID2" represents that the communication
cable is connected (i.e., the connection status information is set
to "1").
[0106] At this point, the connection status information related to
the communication port identification information "PID1" is set to
"1". Accordingly, the server equipment 10 determines a result in
Step S304 as "Yes", and proceeds to Step S306.
[0107] Subsequently, in the connection configuration information
including the communication port identification information "PID2"
included in the received connection notification, the server
equipment 10 determines whether or not communication confirmation
status information represents that the communication is confirmed
(i.e., the communication confirmation status information is set to
"1").
[0108] At this point, the communication confirmation status
information is set to "1". Accordingly, the server equipment 10
determined a result in Step S306 as "Yes", and proceeds to Step
S307 to output, in a viewable manner, the notification information
through the output device (not illustrated).
[0109] The notification information is information representing
that the communication cable is correctly connected to the
communication equipments 20a, 20b, . . . . In the present example,
the notification information includes the one set of communication
port identification information (i.e., the communication port
identification information "PID1" and the communication port
identification information "PID2") on the basis of which the
notification information is outputted.
[0110] Subsequently, the server equipment 10 returns to Step S301
to wait until it receives connection notification, and when
receiving the connection notification, performs processing steps in
Steps S302 to S309. In addition, details of processing steps in
Steps S308 and 309 will be described later.
[0111] Next, referring to FIG. 7, described is operation for the
case where one end of a first communication cable is connected to
the communication port 22a1 of the communication equipment 20a, and
then one end of a second communication cable different from the
first communication cable is erroneously connected to the
communication port 22a1 of the communication equipment 20b.
[0112] In this case, at the point when the one end of the second
communication cable is erroneously connected to the communication
port 22a1 of the communication equipment 20b, the communication
equipment 20a cannot receive communication confirmation information
from the communication equipment 20b. Accordingly, the
communication equipment 20a does not transmit communication
confirmation notification to the server equipment 10.
[0113] From the communication equipments 20a and 20b, one set of
connection notification, which represents that the communication
cables are respectively connected to the corresponding
communication ports 22a1, is received, and therefore in the
connection configuration information including the communication
port identification information "PID1" and the communication port
identification information "PID2", the pieces of connection status
information respectively corresponding to the communication
equipments 20a and 20b are set to "1". On the other hand, the
communication confirmation status information included in the
connection configuration information including the communication
port identification information "PID1" and the communication port
identification information "PID2" is still set to "0". Accordingly,
the server equipment 10 proceeds to a processing step in Step S306
to determine a result of the processing step as "No". As a result,
the server equipment 10 outputs, in a viewable manner, the second
warning information through the unillustrated output device (Step
S308).
[0114] The second warning information is information representing
that the communication cables are erroneously connected to the
communication equipments 20a, 20b, . . . . In the present example,
the second warning information includes the one set of
communication port identification information (i.e., the
communication port identification information "PID1" and the
communication port identification information "PID2") on the basis
of which the second warning information is outputted.
[0115] Subsequently, the server equipment 10 returns to Step S301
to wait until it receives connection notification, and when
receiving the connection notification, repeatedly performs the
processing steps in Step S302 to S309.
[0116] Next, referring to FIG. 7, described is operation for the
case where under the condition that communication port
identification information "PID3" for identifying the communication
port 22b1 of the communication equipment 20a is not included in any
of the pieces of connection configuration information stored in the
connection configuration information storage unit 42 (i.e., the
communication port 22b1 is not expected to be connected with a
communication cable), a communication cable is erroneously
connected to the communication port 22b1.
[0117] In this case, the server equipment 10 determines a result of
the processing step in Step S302 of FIG. 7 as "No", and outputs, in
a viewable manner, the first warning information through the
unillustrated output device.
[0118] The first warning information is information representing
that a communication cable is erroneously connected to any of the
communication equipment 20a, 20b, . . . . Specifically, the first
warning information includes information indicating that a
communication cable is connected to a communication port that is
not expected to be connected. In the present example, the first
warning information includes the communication port identification
information on the basis of which the first warning information is
outputted (i.e., the communication port identification information
"PID3").
[0119] Subsequently, the server equipment 10 returns to step S301
to wait until it receives connection notification, and when
receiving the connection notification, performs the processing
steps in Steps S302 to S309.
[0120] As described above, according to the communication system
according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, when a user connects one end of a communication cable to
a communication port 22a1, the communication equipment 20a provided
with the communication port 22a1 transmits connection notification
to the server equipment 10. The server equipment 10 updates
connection status of the communication port indicated by the
connection notification to "connected", and uses the connection
configuration information table to check status of connecting a
communication port, which is expected as a connection target, to
the communication cable. At this time, if the communication port
serving as a communication target is not connected to the
communication cable, the server equipment 10 transmits a first
notification instruction including communication port
identification information on the communication port to the
communication equipment 20b provided with the communication
port.
[0121] Then, the communication equipment 20b having received the
first notification instruction notifies the user of request to
connect the communication cable to the communication port 22a1
indicated by the communication port identification information
included in the first notification instruction. In this case, an
LED that specifies the communication port necessary to be connected
lights. As a result, the user can easily identify the connection
target of the other end of the communication cable of which the one
end is connected to the communication port. In the present example,
when connecting the one end of the communication cable to the
communication port 22a1 of the communication equipment 20a, the
user can easily identify the communication port 22a1 of the
communication equipment 20b, which is to be connected with the
other end of the communication cable.
[0122] Further, in the communication system 1 according to the
first exemplary embodiment, in the case where the server equipment
10 receives connection notification from any of the communication
equipments 20a, 20b, . . . , if among the pieces of stored
connection configuration information, connection configuration
information including communication port identification information
included in the connection notification is not present, the server
equipment 10 outputs the first warning information representing
that the communication equipment is erroneously connected with a
communication cable.
[0123] That is, the server equipment 10 outputs, in a viewable
manner, the first warning information if a communication cable is
connected to a communication port that is not expected to be
connected with any communication cable. On the basis of this, a
user can easily recognize that the communication cable is
erroneously connected to the communication equipment 20a, 20b, . .
. .
[0124] Still further, in the communication system 1 according to
the first exemplary embodiment, in the case where connection
notification, which includes each of one set of communication port
identification information included in stored connection
configuration information, is received, but communication
confirmation notification including the one set of communication
port identification information included in the pieces of
connection configuration information is not received, the server
equipment 10 outputs the second warning information representing
that a communication cable is erroneously connected to any of the
communication equipments 20a, 20b, . . . .
[0125] That is, the server equipment 10 outputs, in a viewable
manner, the second warning information if mutually different
communication cables are respectively connected to one set of
communication ports that are supposed to be connected by the same
communication cable. On the basis of this, a user can easily
recognize that one of the communication cables is erroneously
connected to any of the communication equipments 20a, 20b, . . .
.
[0126] Yet further, in the communication system 1 according to the
first exemplary embodiment, in the case where connection
notification, which includes each of one set of communication port
identification information included in stored connection
configuration information, is received, and communication
confirmation notification including the one set of communication
port identification information included in the connection
configuration information is received, the server equipment 10
outputs notification information representing that a communication
cable is correctly connected to any two of the communication
equipments 20a, 20b, . . . .
[0127] That is, the server equipment 10 outputs, in a viewable
manner, the notification information in the case where the
communication cable is connected to each of one set of
communication ports as expected. On the basis of this, a user can
easily recognize that the communication cable is correctly
connected to the two communication equipments 20a, 20b, . . . .
[0128] Note that the server equipment 10 according to the first
exemplary embodiment preliminarily stores the pieces of connection
configuration information; however, the present invention may be
configured to generate pieces of connection configuration
information on the basis of pieces of information representing the
communication equipments 20a, 20b, . . . constituting the
communication system 1 and pieces of information representing a
preset connecting plan, and store the pieces of generated
connection configuration information in any of the storage
devices.
Second Exemplary Embodiment
[0129] Next, a communication system according to a second exemplary
embodiment of the present invention is described. The communication
system according to the second exemplary embodiment is different
from the communication system according to the above first
exemplary embodiment in detecting that a communication state
between communication ports is an abnormal state. Accordingly, in
the following, the description is provided with a focus on such a
point of difference.
[0130] Each of light emitting units 22a3, 22b3, . . . according to
the second exemplary embodiment is provided with: a first LED that
emits, for example, blue light; and a second LED that emits light
having a different color from that of the first LED (e.g.,
red).
[0131] As illustrated in FIG. 11, functions of a communication
equipment 20a according to the second exemplary embodiment include,
in addition to the functions of the communication equipment 20a
according to the first exemplary embodiment, a data amount
transmitting unit 36.
[0132] Also, functions of a server equipment 10 according to the
second exemplary embodiment include, in addition to the functions
of the server equipment 10 according to the first exemplary
embodiment, a failure detection unit 47.
[0133] The data amount transmitting unit 36 transmits data amount
information to the server equipment 10 every time a preset
transmission period passes. The data amount information is
information including communication port identification
information, transmitted data amount, and received data amount
regarding each of communication ports 22a1, 22b1, . . . provided
for the communication equipment 20a.
[0134] The transmitted data amount is an amount of data that has
been transmitted through the communication port during passage of
the transmission period. The received data amount is an amount of
data that has been received through the communication port during
passage of the transmission period.
[0135] The failure detection unit 47 receives data amount
information from each of the communication equipments 20a, 20b, . .
. . Every time a preset detection period passes, the failure
detection unit 47 extracts, from among pieces of connection
configuration information stored in the connection configuration
information storage unit 42, pieces of connection configuration
information each in which communication confirmation status
information is set to "1".
[0136] The failure detection unit 47 detects whether or not a
communication state between communication ports indicated by one
set of communication port identification information included in
each of the pieces of extracted connection configuration
information is the abnormal state.
[0137] Specifically, the failure detection unit 47 specifies pieces
of data amount information respectively corresponding to the one
set of communication port identification information included in
the connection configuration information. The failure detection
unit 47 calculates a value (first value) obtained by, from
transmitted data amount included in one (first data amount
information) of the one set of specified data amount information,
subtracting received data amount included in the other one (second
data amount information) of the one set of specified data amount
information. Further, the failure detection unit 47 calculates a
value (second value) obtained by, from transmitted data amount
included in the second data amount information, subtracting
received data amount included in the first data amount
information.
[0138] If at least one of the first and second values is larger
than a preset threshold value, the failure detection unit 47
detects that the communication state between the communication
ports indicated by the one set of communication port identification
information is the abnormal state.
[0139] In this manner, the failure detection unit 47 receives a
transmitted data amount and a received data amount for each of the
communication ports, and on the basis of the received transmitted
data amount and received data amount, detects that a communication
state between communication ports is the abnormal state.
[0140] If the failure detection unit 47 detects that a
communication state between communication ports is the abnormal
state, the notification instruction transmitting unit 43 transmits
a second notification instruction to each of communication
equipments 20a, 20b, . . . provided with the communication ports.
The second notification instruction includes a corresponding one of
pieces of communication port identification information for
identifying the communication ports.
[0141] The light emission control unit 33 receives the second
notification instruction from the server equipment 10. The second
notification instruction includes a corresponding one of the pieces
of communication port identification information. When receiving
the second notification instruction, the light emission control
unit 33 makes any of light emitting units 22a3, 22b3, . . . , which
is arranged corresponding to a communication port 22a1, 22b1, . . .
indicated by the communication port identification information
included in the second notification instruction, emit red light
(i.e., makes the second LED emit light).
[0142] In this manner, when the light emission control unit 33
receives the second notification instruction, the light emitting
unit 22a3, 22b3, . . . and the light emission control unit 33
notify a user that a state of the communication port 22a1, 22b1, .
. . indicated by the communication port identification information
included in the second notification instruction is the abnormal
state. That is, any of the light emitting units 22a3, 22b3, . . .
and the light emission control unit 33 constitute a second
notification unit.
[0143] Next, operation of the communication system 1 according to
the second exemplary embodiment is described referring to FIG.
12.
[0144] First, each of the communication equipments 20a and 20b
transmits data amount information to the server equipment 10 every
time the transmission period passes (Steps S701 and S702)
[0145] In the following, the description is continued on the
assumption of the case where a communication state between the
communication port 22a1 of the communication equipment 20a and the
communication port 22a1 of the communication equipment 20b is the
abnormal state.
[0146] In this case, on the basis of pieces of connection
configuration information stored in the connection configuration
information storage unit 42 and the pieces of received data amount
information, the server equipment 10 detects that the communication
state between the communication port 22a1 of the communication
equipment 20a and the communication port 22a1 of the communication
equipment 20b is the abnormal state (Step S703).
[0147] Then, the server equipment 10 transmits the second
notification instruction including the communication port
identification information "PID1" for identifying the communication
port 22a1 of the communication equipment 20a to the communication
equipment 20a. Further, the server equipment 10 transmits the
second notification instruction including the communication port
identification information "PID2" for identifying the communication
port 22a1 of the communication equipment 20b to the communication
equipment 20b.
[0148] In the communication equipment 20a, the light emitting unit
22a3 that is arranged corresponding to the communication port 22a1
indicated by the communication port identification information
"PID1" received from the server equipment 10 emits red light (Step
S705).
[0149] Similarly, in the communication equipment 20b, the light
emitting unit 22a3 that is arranged corresponding to the
communication port 22a1 indicated by the communication port
identification information "PID2" received from the server
equipment 10 emits red light (Step S706).
[0150] As described above, according to the communication system
according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, the same action and effect as those of the communication
system 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment can be
produced.
[0151] Further, according to the communication system 1 according
to the second exemplary embodiment, the server equipment 10 can
detect that a communication state between communication ports is
the abnormal state.
[0152] In addition, if it is detected that a communication state
between communication ports is the abnormal state, the
communication system 1 according to the second exemplary embodiment
notifies a user of the detection. According to this, the user can
easily recognize that the state between the communication ports is
the abnormal state. Further, the user can also easily identify the
communication ports in the abnormal state.
[0153] Note that each of the communication equipments 20a, 20b, . .
. according to the second exemplary embodiment is configured to,
when receiving the first notification instruction, make a
corresponding light emitting unit 22a3, 22b3, . . . emit blue
light, and on the other hand, when receiving the second
notification instruction, make the corresponding light emitting
unit 22a3, 22b3, . . . emit red light. That is, any of the light
emitting units 22a3, 22b3, . . . according to the second exemplary
embodiment emits light having a different color depending on each
of the first and second notification instructions. This enables a
user to identify content of a notification instruction with a color
of the light emitting unit 22a3, 22b3, . . . .
[0154] However, a method for identifying content of a notification
instruction is not limited to this, but may be one that, depending
on content of a notification instruction, changes a light emitting
mode of a corresponding light emitting unit 22a3, 22b3, . . . . For
example, each of the communication equipments 20a, 20b, . . .
according to the variation of the second exemplary embodiment may
be configured to, when receiving the first notification
instruction, make a corresponding light emitting unit 22a3, 22b3, .
. . emit light in a first mode, and on the other hand, when
receiving the second notification instruction, emit the light
emitting unit 22a3, 22b3, . . . emit light in a second mode.
Specifically, the first mode is a mode that blinks the light
emitting unit 22a3, 22b3, . . . , and the second mode is a mode
that keeps the light emitting unit 22a3, 22b3, . . . emitting
light.
Third Exemplary Embodiment
[0155] Next, a communication system according to a third exemplary
embodiment of the present invention is described referring to FIG.
13.
[0156] The communication system 100 according to the third
exemplary embodiment is a system provided with: a plurality of
communication equipments 110a, 110b, . . . that are configured to
be mutually connectable through a communication cable; and a server
equipment 120 that are communicatively connected to each of the
plurality of communication equipments 110a, 110b, . . . .
[0157] Each of the plurality of communication equipments 110a,
110b, . . . is provided with at least one communication port 111
that is detachably connected with a communication cable. Also, each
of the plurality of communication equipments 110a, 110b, . . . is
provided with a connection detection unit 112 and a connection
notification transmitting unit 113. The connection detection unit
112 detects that the communication cable is connected to the
communication port 111. In the case where it is detected that the
communication cable is connected to the above communication port,
the connection notification transmitting unit 113 transmits, to the
above server equipment 120, connection notification including
communication port identification information for representing the
detection and identifying the communication port.
[0158] Further, the server equipment 120 is provided with a
connection configuration information storage unit 121 and a first
notification instruction transmitting unit 122. The connection
configuration information storage unit 121 stores at least one
piece of connection configuration information including one set of
connection port identification information respectively for
identifying one set of communication ports connected through a
communication cable. When receiving the above connection
notification from any of the communication equipments 110a, 110b, .
. . , the first notification instruction transmitting unit 122
transmits, to another communication equipment 110a, 110b, . . .
provided with a communication port indicated by communication port
identification information included in connection configuration
information that is from among the pieces of connection
configuration information stored in the connection configuration
information storage unit 121 and includes other communication port
identification information included in the connection notification,
first notification instruction including the communication port
identification information.
[0159] In addition, each of the plurality of communication
equipments 110a, 110b, . . . is provided with a first notification
unit 114 that, when the communication equipment 110a, 110b, . . .
receives the first notification instruction from the server
equipment 120, notifies a user of request to connect a
communication cable to the communication port indicated by the
communication port identification information included in the first
notification instruction.
[0160] According to this, when a user connects one end of a
communication cable to a communication port 111, any of the
communication equipments 110a, 110b, . . . , which is provided with
the communication port 111, transmits connection notification to
the server equipment 120. This causes the server equipment 120 to,
on the basis of the pieces of stored connection configuration
information and communication port identification information
included in the received connection notification, transmit a first
notification instruction to another communication equipment 110a,
110b, . . . provided with another communication port 111 to be
connected with the other end of the above communication cable.
[0161] The another communication equipment 110a, 110b, . . . having
received the first notification instruction notifies the user of
request to connect the communication cable to the another
communication port 111 indicated by communication port
identification information included in the first notification
instruction. As a result, when connecting the one end of the
communication cable to the communication port 111, the user can
easily identify the another communication port 111 to be connected
with the other end of the communication cable.
Fourth Exemplary Embodiment
[0162] Next, a communication system according to a fourth exemplary
embodiment of the present invention is described referring to FIGS.
2, and 14 to 17. The communication system according to the fourth
exemplary embodiment is different from that of the first exemplary
embodiment in that communication confirmation information between
communication equipments is transmitted in response to a
communication confirmation request from a server equipment 10, and
the rest of a configuration and operation are the same as those of
the first exemplary embodiment. In the following, a configuration
and operation that are different from those of the first exemplary
embodiment are described.
Configuration
[0163] In response to communication confirmation request from the
server equipment 10, the communication confirmation information
transmitting unit 32 according to the fourth exemplary embodiment
transmits communication confirmation information to a communication
cable connected to a communication port indicated by the
communication confirmation request.
[0164] The communication confirmation notification receiving unit
44 according to the fourth exemplary embodiment uses, as a search
key, one set (two pieces) of communication port identification
information included in received communication confirmation
notification to search the connection configuration information
storage unit 42 (connection configuration table), and updates
communication confirmation status information corresponding to the
one set of communication port identification information to
"communication confirmed" (e.g., sets the communication
confirmation status information to "1"). Also, the communication
confirmation notification receiving unit 44 outputs the received
communication confirmation notification to the notification
information output unit 45.
[0165] The notification information output unit 45 confirms, on the
basis of the communication confirmation notification, that
communication becomes available between a communication port pair
preset in the server equipment 10. When confirming communication
connection between the communication port pair, the notification
information output unit 45 outputs, in a viewable manner,
notification information indicating the communication port pair
between which a communication cable is correctly connected as
expected to complete the communication connection. Note that the
communication confirmation notification is transmitted only from
one of communication equipments of which the communication port
pair is correctly connected with the communication cable, and
therefore on the basis of the communication confirmation
notification, the notification information output unit 45 can
confirm that the communication cable is correctly connected, and
between the communication port pair, the communication becomes
available.
Operation
[0166] Next, the operation of the communication system in the
fourth exemplary embodiment is described. In the following, the
same operation as that in the first exemplary embodiment is
described with being added with the same symbols as those in the
first exemplary embodiment, and details of different operation are
described.
[0167] Referring to FIG. 14, described is operation up to, in
response to connection of a communication cable to the
communication port 22a1 of the communication equipment 20a, urging
to connect the communication cable to the communication equipment
20b that is not connected.
[0168] During activation of the communication equipment 20a, the
CPU of the communication equipment 20a executes a connection
detection processing program illustrated by a flowchart of FIG. 15.
To describe specifically, when starting to process the connection
detection processing program, the communication equipment 20a waits
in Step S201 until it detects the connection of the communication
cable.
[0169] The communication equipment 20a having detected the
connection of the communication cable determines a result in Step
S201 as "Yes", and proceeds to Step S203 to transmit connection
notification to the server equipment 10 (Step S203). Specifically,
the communication equipment 20a transmits, to the server equipment
10, the connection notification including communication port
identification information "PID1" on the communication port 20a1
connected with the communication cable. Subsequently, the
communication equipment 20a returns to Step S201 to wait until a
communication cable is connected to another communication port, and
when detecting the connection, performs the processing step in Step
S203.
[0170] Referring to FIG. 14, when a user (e.g., an administrator of
the communication system 1) connects one end of the communication
cable to the communication port 22a1 of the communication equipment
20a, the connection detection unit 22a2 of the communication device
20a detects that the communication cable is connected to the
communication port 22a1 (Step S101). On the basis of this, the
communication equipment 20a transmits, to the server equipment 10,
the connection notification including the communication port
identification information "PID1" on the communication port 20a1
connected with the communication cable (Step S102).
[0171] When the connection notification is transmitted from the
communication equipment 20a, as in the first exemplary embodiment,
the server equipment 10 transmits a first notification instruction
to the communication equipment 20b (Step S103).
[0172] In an example illustrated in FIG. 14, in the communication
equipment 20b having received the first notification instruction
from the server equipment 10, as in the first exemplary embodiment,
the light emitting unit 22a3 for the communication port 22a1
corresponding to the first notification instruction emits light. On
the basis of this, the user recognizes that the user should connect
the other end of the communication cable connected to the
communication port 22a1 of the communication equipment 20a to the
communication port 22a1 of the communication equipment 20b. Then,
the user connects the other end of the communication cable to the
communication port 22a1 of the communication equipment 20b.
[0173] As with the communication equipment 20a, the communication
equipment 20b executes the connection detection processing program
illustrated in FIG. 15. Accordingly the communication equipment 20b
having detected the connection of the communication cable to the
communication port 22a1 transmits connection notification including
communication port identification information "PID2" to the server
equipment 10.
[0174] On the basis of the set of connection notification received
from the communication equipments 20a and 20b, the server equipment
10 according to the fourth exemplary embodiment confirms the
connection of both of the communication port pair expected to be
connected. At this time, whether or not communication is available
between the communication port pair is not confirmed, and therefore
the server equipment 10 outputs, in a viewable manner, second
warning information and transmits a communication confirmation
request to the communication equipment 20b (Steps S112 and S113).
The communication confirmation request includes the pieces of
communication port identification information for identifying the
communication port pair.
[0175] In response to the communication confirmation request, the
communication equipment 20b transmits communication confirmation
information including the communication port identification
information "PID2" for identifying the communication port 22a1 to
the communication cable (here, the other communication equipment
20a) through the communication port 22a1 (Step S106). This causes
the communication equipment 20a to receive the communication
confirmation information including the communication port
identification information "PID2" from the communication equipment
20b.
[0176] As in the first exemplary embodiment, the communication
equipment 20a transmits communication confirmation notification to
the server equipment 10 (Step S107).
[0177] On the other hand, during activation of the server equipment
10, the CPU of the server equipment 10 according to the fourth
exemplary embodiment executes a communication confirmation
reception processing program illustrated by a flowchart of FIG. 17.
As in the first exemplary embodiment, the server equipment 10 waits
in Step S601 until it receives the communication confirmation
notification, and when receiving the communication confirmation
notification, updates communication confirmation status information
in connection configuration information indicated by the pieces of
communication port identification information included in the
communication confirmation notification to "communication
availability confirmed" (Step S602). Subsequently, the server
equipment 10 outputs, in a viewable manner, notification
information indicating that the connection between the
communication port pair is completed (Step S603 and Step S114 in
FIG. 14). At this time, it is preferable to stop the output of the
second warning information.
[0178] As described above, in the communication system in the
fourth exemplary embodiment, the server equipment 10 having
confirmed the connection from the communication equipments 20a and
20b controls communication confirmation operation between the
communication equipments. This enables unnecessary communication
availability/unavailability confirmation operation by the
communication equipment 20a having detected the connection of the
communication cable to be omitted.
[0179] In the above, the present invention has been described
referring to the above exemplary embodiments; however, the present
invention is not limited to any of the above-described exemplary
embodiments. Various modifications that one having ordinary skill
in the art can appreciate can be made to constitution and detail of
the present invention within the scope of the present
invention.
[0180] Note that each of the functions of the communication system
1 in any of the above exemplary embodiments is realized by the CPUs
executing the programs (software): however they may be realized by
hardware such as a circuit.
[0181] Also, in each of the above exemplary embodiments, the
programs are stored in the storage devices; however, they may be
stored in a computer-readable recording medium. For example, the
recording medium is a portable medium such as a flexible disk, an
optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor
memory.
[0182] Further, as another variation of the above exemplary
embodiments, any combination of the above-described exemplary
embodiments and variation may be employed. For example, the first
warning information or second warning information may be outputted
to any of the communication equipments 20a and 20b each of which is
a transmission source of connection notification. In this case,
each of the communication equipments 20a and 20b is preferably
provided with an output device that outputs, in a viewable manner,
the first or second warning information. Alternatively, the light
emitting unit 22a3 may emit light in a mode that identifies the
first or second warning information (identifies it by a light
emission color, blinking interval, or the like).
[0183] <Supplementary Notes>
[0184] Part or all of the above-described exemplary embodiments can
be described as in the following Supplementary notes, but not
limited to the following.
[0185] (Supplementary Note 1)
[0186] A communication system comprising: a plurality of
communication equipments that are configured to be mutually
connectable through a communication cable; and a server equipment
that is communicatively connected to each of the plurality of
communication equipments, wherein:
[0187] each of the plurality of communication equipments
comprises
[0188] at least one communication port that is detachably connected
with the communication cable, and also comprises
[0189] a connection detection unit that detects that the
communication cable is connected to the communication port, and
[0190] a connection notification transmitting unit that, if it is
detected that the communication cable is connected to the
communication port, transmits, to the server equipment, connection
notification including communication port identification
information for representing the detection and identifying the
communication port;
[0191] the server equipment comprises
[0192] a connection configuration information storage unit that
stores at least one piece of connection configuration information
including pieces of communication port identification information
for respectively identifying one set of communication ports
connected through the communication cable, and
[0193] a first notification instruction transmitting unit that, if
the connection notification is received from the communication
equipment, transmits, to a communication equipment provided with a
communication port indicated by communication port identification
information included in connection configuration information
including other communication port identification information
included in the connection notification, a first notification
instruction including the communication port identification
information, the connection configuration information being from
among the stored connection configuration information; and
[0194] each of the plurality of communication equipments further
comprises
[0195] a first notification unit that, if the first notification
instruction is received from the server equipment, notifies a user
of request to connect the communication cable to the communication
port indicated by the communication port identification information
included in the first notification instruction.
[0196] According to this, when the user connects one end of a
communication cable to a communication port, a communication
equipment provided with the communication port transmits connection
notification to the server equipment. This causes the server
equipment to, on the basis of the stored connection configuration
information and communication port identification information
included in the received connection notification, transmit first
notification instruction to a communication equipment provided with
a communication port to be connected with the other end of the
communication cable.
[0197] Then, the communication equipment having received the first
notification instruction notified the user of request to connect
the communication cable to the communication port indicated by
communication port identification information included in the first
notification instruction. As a result, when connecting the one end
of the communication port to the communication port, the user can
easily specifies the communication port to be connected with the
other end of the communication cable.
[0198] (Supplementary Note 2)
[0199] The communication system according to Supplementary note 1,
wherein
[0200] the server equipment comprises
[0201] a first warning information output unit that, when the
connection notification is received from the communication
equipment, if among the stored connection configuration
information, the connection configuration information including the
communication port identification information included in the
connection notification is not present, outputs first warning
information representing that the communication cable is
erroneously connected to the communication equipment.
[0202] According to this, the server equipment outputs the first
warning information if a communication port not expected to be
connected with any communication cable is connected with a
communication cable. This enables the user to easily recognize that
the communication cable is erroneously connected to a communication
equipment.
[0203] (Supplementary Note 3)
[0204] The communication system according to Supplementary note 1
or 2, wherein:
[0205] each of the plurality of communication equipments
comprises
[0206] a communication confirmation information transmitting unit
that transmits, to the other communication equipment connected
through the communication cable, communication confirmation
information including the communication port identification
information for identifying the communication port connected with
the communication cable,
[0207] a communication confirmation information receiving unit that
receives the communication confirmation information from the other
communication equipment connected through the communication
equipment, and
[0208] a communication confirmation notification transmitting unit
that, when the communication confirmation information is received,
transmits, to the server equipment, communication confirmation
notification including the communication port identification
information included in the communication confirmation information
and the communication port identification information for
identifying the communication port that when receiving the
communication confirmation information, the device of interest
uses; and
[0209] the server equipment comprises
[0210] a second warning information output unit that, if the
connection notification including each of the set of communication
port identification information included in the stored connection
configuration information is received, but the communication
confirmation notification including the one set of communication
port identification information included in the connection
configuration information is not received, outputs second warning
information representing that the communication cable is
erroneously connected to the communication equipment.
[0211] According to this, the server equipment outputs the second
warning information if one set of communication ports that are
expected to be connected by the same communication cable are
respectively connected with mutually different communication
cables. This enables the user to easily recognize that a
communication cable is erroneously connected to a communication
equipment.
[0212] (Supplementary Note 4)
[0213] The communication system according to Supplementary note 3,
wherein
[0214] the server equipment comprises
[0215] a notification information output unit that, if the
connection notification including each of the one set of
communication port identification information included in the
stored connection configuration information is received, and the
connection confirmation notification including the one set of
communication port identification information included in the
connection configuration information is received, outputs
notification information representing that the communication cable
is correctly connected to the communication equipments.
[0216] According to this, the server equipment outputs notification
information when a communication cable is connected to each of one
set of communication ports as expected. This enables the user to
easily recognize that the communication cable is correctly
connected to communication equipments.
[0217] (Supplementary Note 5)
[0218] The communication system according to any one of
Supplementary notes 1 to 4, wherein:
[0219] each of the plurality of communication equipments
comprises
[0220] a data amount transmitting unit that, for each of the
communication ports provided for the communication equipment,
transmits, to the server equipment, a transmitted data amount that
is an amount of data transmitted through the communication port,
and also transmits, to the server equipment, a received data amount
that is an amount of data received through the communication port;
and
[0221] the server equipment comprises
[0222] an failure detection unit that, for each of the
communication ports, receives the transmitted data amount and the
received data amount, and on a basis of the received transmission
data amount and the received data amount, detects that a
communication state between the communication ports is an abnormal
state.
[0223] According to this, the server equipment can detect that the
communication state between the communication ports is the abnormal
state.
[0224] (Supplementary Note 6)
[0225] The communication system according to Supplementary note 5,
wherein:
[0226] the server equipment comprises
[0227] a second notification instruction transmitting unit that, if
it is detected that the communication state between the
communication ports is the abnormal state, transmits, to the
communication equipments provided with the communication ports, a
second notification instruction including the pieces of
communication port identification information for identifying the
communication ports, respectively; and
[0228] each of the plurality of communication equipments further
comprises
[0229] a second notification unit that, if the second notification
instruction is received from the server equipment, notifies the
user that a state between the communication ports indicated by the
pieces of communication port identification information included in
the second notification instruction is the abnormal state.
[0230] According to this, the user can easily recognize that the
state between the communication ports is the abnormal state.
Further, the user can also easily identify the communication ports
in the abnormal state.
[0231] (Supplementary Note 7)
[0232] The communication system according to any one of
Supplementary notes 1 to 6, wherein
[0233] the first notification unit
[0234] includes a plurality of light emitting units that emit
light, wherein the plurality of light emitting units are arranged
with being respectively related to the communication ports provided
for the device of interest, and
[0235] includes a light emission control unit that, if the first
notification instruction is received, makes a light emitting unit
among the plurality of light emitting units emit light, the light
emitting unit being arranged corresponding to the communication
port indicated by the communication port identification information
included in the first notification instruction.
[0236] (Supplementary Note 8)
[0237] A communication method that is applied to a communication
system comprising: a plurality of communication equipments that are
configured to be mutually connectable through a communication
cable; and a server equipment that is communicatively connected to
each of the plurality of communication equipments, wherein:
[0238] each of the plurality of communication equipments comprises
at least one communication port that is detachably connected with
the communication cable;
[0239] the communication equipment detects that the communication
cable is connected to the communication port;
[0240] if detecting that the communication cable is connected to
the communication port, the communication equipment transmits, to
the server equipment, connection notification including
communication port identification information for representing the
detection and identifying the communication port;
[0241] if receiving the connection notification from the
communication equipment, the server equipment transmits, to a
communication equipment provided with a communication port
indicated by communication port identification information included
in connection configuration information including other
communication port identification information included in the
connection notification, a first notification instruction including
the communication port identification information, the connection
configuration information being from among pieces of connection
configuration information stored in a storage device that stores at
least the one piece of connection configuration information
including the pieces of communication port identification
information for respectively identifying the one set of
communication ports connected through the communication cable;
and
[0242] if receiving the first notification instruction from the
server equipment, the communication equipment notifies a user of
request to connect the communication cable to the communication
port indicated by the communication port identification information
included in the first notification instruction.
[0243] (Supplementary Note 9)
[0244] The communication method according to Supplementary note 8,
wherein
[0245] when receiving the connection notification from the
communication equipment, if among the pieces of stored connection
configuration information, the connection configuration information
including the communication port identification information
included in the connection notification is not present, the server
equipment outputs first warning information representing that the
communication cable is erroneously connected to the communication
equipment.
[0246] (Supplementary Note 10)
[0247] The communication method according to Supplementary note 8
or 9, wherein;
[0248] the communication equipment transmits, to the other
communication equipment connected through the communication cable,
communication confirmation information including the communication
port identification information for identifying the communication
port connected with the communication cable;
[0249] the communication equipment receives the communication
confirmation information from the other communication equipment
connected through the communication equipment;
[0250] if receiving the communication confirmation information, the
communication equipment transmits, to the server equipment,
communication confirmation notification including the communication
port identification information included in the communication
confirmation information and the communication port identification
information for identifying the communication port that when
receiving the communication confirmation information, the device of
interest uses; and
[0251] if receiving the connection notification including each of
the one set of communication port identification information
included in the stored connection configuration information, but
not receiving the communication confirmation notification including
the one set of communication port identification information
included in the connection configuration information, the server
equipment outputs second warning information representing that the
communication cable is erroneously connected to the communication
equipment.
[0252] (Supplementary Note 11)
[0253] A server equipment that is communicatively connected to each
of a plurality of communication equipments configured to be
mutually connectable through a communication cable, the server
equipment comprising:
[0254] a connection configuration information storage unit that
stores at least one piece of connection configuration information
including pieces of communication port identification information
for respectively identifying one set of communication ports
connected through the communication cable, and
[0255] a first notification instruction transmitting unit that, if
connection notification including communication port identification
information for identifying a communication port provided for a
communication equipment is received from the communication
equipment, transmits, to a communication equipment provided with a
communication port indicated by other communication port
identification information included in connection configuration
information including the communication port identification
information included in the connection notification, a first
notification instruction including the communication port
identification information, the connection configuration
information being from among the stored connection configuration
information.
[0256] (Supplementary Note 12)
[0257] The server equipment according to Supplementary note 11,
comprising
[0258] a first warning information output unit that, when the
connection notification is received from the communication
equipment, if among the stored connection configuration
information, the connection configuration information including the
communication port identification information included in the
connection notification is not present, outputs first warning
information representing that the communication cable is
erroneously connected to the communication equipment.
[0259] (Supplementary Note 13)
[0260] The server equipment according to Supplementary note 11 or
12, comprising
[0261] a second warning information output unit that, if the
connection notification including each of the one set of
communication port identification information included in the
stored connection configuration information is received, but
communication confirmation notification including the one set of
communication port identification information included in the
connection configuration information is not received, outputs
second warning information representing that the communication
cable is erroneously connected to the communication equipment.
[0262] (Supplementary Note 14)
[0263] A program intended to instruct a server equipment to
realize, the server equipment being communicatively connected to
each of a plurality of communication equipment configured to be
mutually connectable through a communication cable,
[0264] a connection configuration information storage unit that
stores at least one piece of connection configuration information
including pieces of communication port identification information
for respectively identifying one set of communication ports
connected through the communication cable, and
[0265] a first notification instruction transmitting unit that, if
connection notification including communication port identification
information for identifying a communication port provided for a
communication equipment is received from the communication
equipment, transmits, to a communication equipment provided with a
communication port indicated by other communication port
identification information included in connection configuration
information including the communication port identification
information included in the connection notification, a first
notification instruction including the communication port
identification information, the connection configuration
information being from among the stored connection configuration
information.
[0266] (Supplementary Note 15)
[0267] The program according to Supplementary note 14, the program
being intended to further instruct the server equipment to
realize
[0268] a first warning information output unit that, when the
connection notification is received from the communication
equipment, if among the stored connection configuration
information, the connection configuration information including the
communication port identification information included in the
connection notification is not present, outputs first warning
information representing that the communication cable is
erroneously connected to the communication equipment.
[0269] (Supplementary Note 16)
[0270] The program according to Supplementary note 14 or 15, the
program being intended to further instruct the server equipment to
realize
[0271] a second warning information output unit that, if the
connection notification including each of the one set of
communication port identification information included in the
stored connection configuration information is received, but
communication confirmation notification including the one set of
communication port identification information included in the
connection configuration information is not received, outputs
second warning information representing that the communication
cable is erroneously connected to the communication equipment.
[0272] (Supplementary Note 17)
[0273] A communication equipment that is communicatively connected
to a server equipment and configured to be connectable to another
device through a communication cable, the communication equipment
comprising
[0274] at least one communication port that is detachably connected
with the communication cable, and also comprising:
[0275] a connection detection unit that detects that the
communication cable is connected to the communication port;
[0276] a connection notification transmitting unit that, if it is
detected that the communication cable is connected to the
communication port, transmits, to the server equipment, connection
notification including communication port identification
information for representing the detection and identifying the
communication port; and
[0277] a first notification unit that, if first notification
instruction including communication port identification information
for identifying a communication port is received from the server
equipment, notifies a user of request to connect the communication
cable to the communication port indicated by the communication port
identification information included in the first notification
instruction.
[0278] (Supplementary Note 18)
[0279] The communication equipment according to Supplementary note
17, comprising:
[0280] a communication confirmation information transmitting unit
that transmits, to the another communication equipment connected
through the communication cable, communication confirmation
information including the communication port identification
information for identifying the communication port connected with
the communication cable;
[0281] a communication confirmation information receiving unit that
receives the communication confirmation information from the
another communication equipment connected through the communication
equipment; and
[0282] a communication confirmation notification transmitting unit
that, when the communication confirmation information is received,
transmits, to the server equipment, communication confirmation
notification including the communication port identification
information included in the communication confirmation information
and the communication port identification information for
identifying the communication port that when receiving the
communication confirmation information, the device of interest
uses.
[0283] (Supplementary Note 19)
[0284] A program intended to instruct a communication equipment to
realize, the communication equipment being communicatively
connected to a server equipment, also configured to be connectable
to another device through a communication cable, and comprising at
least one communication port that is detachably connected with the
communication cable,
[0285] a connection detection unit that detects that the
communication cable is connected to the communication port;
[0286] a connection notification transmitting unit that, if it is
detected that the communication cable is connected to the
communication port, transmits, to the server equipment, connection
notification including communication port identification
information for representing the detection and identifying the
communication port; and
[0287] a first notification unit that, if first notification
instruction including communication port identification information
for identifying the communication port is received from the server
equipment, notifies a user of request to connect the communication
cable to the communication port indicated by the communication port
identification information included in the first notification
instruction.
[0288] (Supplementary Note 20)
[0289] The program according to Supplementary note 19, the program
being intended to further instruct the communication equipment to
realize
[0290] a communication confirmation information transmitting unit
that transmits, to the another communication equipment connected
through the communication cable, communication confirmation
information including the communication port identification
information for identifying the communication port connected with
the communication cable,
[0291] a communication confirmation information receiving unit that
receives the communication confirmation information from the
another communication equipment connected through the communication
equipment, and
[0292] a communication confirmation notification transmitting unit
that, when the communication confirmation information is received,
transmits, to the server equipment, communication confirmation
notification including the communication port identification
information included in the communication confirmation information
and the communication port identification information for
identifying the communication port that when receiving the
communication confirmation information, the device of interest
uses.
[0293] The present invention may be applied to a communication
system in which a server equipment controls a communication route
including a plurality of communication equipments (for example, a
system using the OpenFlow). It should be noted that this
application is based upon Japanese Patent Application
JP-2010-035684 and the disclosure of Japanese Patent Application
JP-2010-035684 is incorporated herein in its entirety by
reference.
* * * * *